Giants sign DJ Peters on one-year, $680,000 contract

DJ Peters [SCREEN CAPTURE]

The Lotte Giants announced Thursday that they have acquired former major leaguer DJ Peters on a one-year deal worth up to $680,000.

The 25-year-old outfielder will earn $600,000 in guaranteed salary with an additional $80,000 in incentives.

Peters joins the Giants just months after making his MLB debut earlier this year. The young outfielder made his first appearance in the big leagues as a pinch hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 23. He made 18 appearances for the Dodgers before getting designated for assignment and picked up by the Texas Rangers in early August.

Peters appeared in 52 games with the Rangers to end his rookie year in the majors with a .197 batting average, 44 hits, 38 RBIs and 13 home runs over a total of 70 games.

Despite an impressive defensive performance, Peters was outrighted to the minors at the end of the 2021 season to make room for some bigger name outfielders on the roster. With his MLB future uncertain, Peters ended up reaching a deal with the Giants where he will likely try to follow in the footsteps of the growing number of former major leaguers who have managed to relaunch their big league careers after a successful spell in the KBO.

Although his major league career was brief, Peters has already made it into the news in Korea. Back in March this year, Peters was the very first player to rough up then-Rangers pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong, hitting a big home run off the Korean ace in his very first spring training appearance. The two later became teammates with the Rangers but will have a chance for a rematch this year, as they're both set to play in the KBO.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]